Melinda's Favorite Podcasts

In an effort to be smart and cultured, I started listening to podcasts about a year ago. Currently, I have 4 podcasts in rotation but welcome suggestions for more. Got something you love that you want to tell me about? Leave it in the comments!

Under The Dome The Under the Dome team at The News & Observer present the Domecast, your source for reviews and previews of topics in state government and politics for North Carolina. You can learn more at newsobserver.com/dome.

Fun fact: I love government/politics. There were even a few years in high school when I thought politics would be my future, but then the entertainment industry came calling and it's got a lot more glamour. Even though I am 2k+ miles away, I love keeping up with the drama that is North Carolina government. Under The Dome helps me do that. Ran by the N&O team, Under The Dome is informative, well rounded and usually pretty hilarious.

Shout out to the Under The Dome team for making my life by sending me this awesome mug.

Group Text With Erin And MeLissaErin & MeLissa interview other humans about friendship, technology, and communication, and how all those things may be helping or completely destroying our lives.

Erin and MeLissa are two dear nuggets that I love very much. They are a part of my church community and two of the most hilarious ladies around. On Group Text, Erin and MeLissa interview their comedy colleagues and it generally makes me laugh so hard I cry in traffic.

Walking The Floor with Chris Shiflett Walk the floor with Dead Peasants frontman and Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett as her interviews all manner of interesting people and tries to find out what makes them tick.

After reading the description of, there is no question as to why I listed this podcast as one of my favorites. However biased I may be, Chris Shiflett really puts out some amazing content on Walking The Floor. What started as a project to interview everyone involved in the old Bakersfield country scene has morphed into a really great podcast that features some of musics heavy hitters. I actually met Chris at one of Nate Mendel's Lieutenant show's and told him that I was an avid listener. He seems pretty stoked on it but then again maybe he was just terrified of me because I kept screaming "I LOVE YOUR PODCAST" in his face. Professional, Melinda.

Dear Sugar RadioThe universe has good news for the lost, lonely and heartsick. Dear Sugar — the cult-favorite advice column from The Rumpus — is back, but this time speaking right into your ears. Hosted by the original Sugars, Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, the podcast fields all your questions — no matter how deep or dark — and offers radical empathy in return.

Cheryl Strayed + life advice? Sign me up! Dear Sugar is by far my favorite podcast ever. Listeners write in anonomously then Cheryl, Steve, and usually an expert guest, give their advice. Some of the topics are dark and don't really pertain to me but for the most part, I can relate to many of the problems posed.

Sure, we’ve all seen those psychic hotline infomercials in the middle of the night or the little shacks downtown with neon palm reading signs. However, Alex Saar is neither of those. Renowned evidential medium, public speaker, and spiritual teacher, Alex started setting spirit at the age of 8, while going through the traumatic experience of the death of her Nana, who raised her.

I fancy myself a bit of a wine expert… if you count frequent usage of the “When Wine” app, only purchasing bottles $10 or less, and having been to Napa Valley once. So of course, I jumped at the chance to attend an exclusive wine pairing dinner at so•ca with Patricio Santos, winemaker at Ricardo Santos Vineyards in Argentina. Finally, a chance to rub elbows with likeminded, vino knowledgeable peers!

Want to add a little more intensity to your fitness routine? Look no further than FlowCORPS. Now open in Downtown Raleigh, this workout will test your limits and have you leaving dripping sweat. A mixture of cardio intervals and pilates, this workout takes your mom’s XFormer workout to another level.

Since relocating back to Raleigh, Whiskey Kitchen has been one of my go-to spots. Whether if it's entertaining a friend visiting from out of town, a client meeting, or just a quick drink, I know that the food, drinks, and staff will always be wondering. When I heard that Whiskey Kitchen's quarterly Supper Club was coming up, I jumped at the chance to go.

I am an absolute sucker for beauty products and when you add in the fact that they are ‘clean’, well... let’s just say my accountant wouldn’t be stoked on how much money I spend. When I heard a new clean beauty store was coming to my hood, I ran over there as fast as I could.

I grew up just a few miles down the road from Spring Lake and admittedly, I never spent much time there. I saw Spring Lake the same way I saw my own hometown, a small, tight-knit company with nothing to do. After working closely with my friends over at the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, I learned that I couldn't have been more wrong. Ready to explore the area, myself and a few other bloggers set out on an outdoor adventure in Spring Lake!

Topsail Island -- 26 miles of quiet sandy beaches, pirate lore, WWII history, sea turtle rehabilitation, and... James Beard Award Winning, farm to table food? You heard right. After having a vacation home on Topsail Island for over 20 years, I've loved watching this tiny little island transform. While I hadn't visited in nearly 10 years (college and my move to LA are to blame), I have made it a priority to get to know this almost new to me island top to bottom. That's where The Bistro at Topsail comes into play.

With almost any weight loss or exercise program, there is generally a disclaimer to check with your doctor before beginning — but I honestly don’t know anyone who ever has. On my never-ending journey to be the healthiest person around, I decided to actually check in with my doctor about my current weight loss (and lack thereof) situation.

With an insane work schedule and workout plan, I heavily rely on shakes to make sure that I get in all of the nutrients I need when I don't have time for a full meal. I've spent years trying to change up my "bro-shake" game which means a lot of trial and error. Honestly, I had pretty much written off shakes until I discovered the glory that is Blender Bombs.